Former Panthers Pro Bowler interested in team’s HC job

Sports broadcaster and former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Former Panthers Pro Bowler reportedly interested in team’s head coaching job

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 11/27/23

In firing head coach Frank Reich 12 weeks into the 2023 season, the Carolina Panthers have given themselves a six-week head start to find a new head coach.

However, according to a report from Joseph Person and Richard Deitsch of The Athletic, they may not have to search very hard as they already have an interested party who has a history with the organization.

“Ex-Carolina tight end Greg Olsen, the color analyst on Fox’s No. 1 NFL crew, would be interested in the Panthers’ vacancy if he were approached, according to sources close to Olsen who were granted anonymity so they could speak freely,” Person and Deitsch wrote. “The 38-year-old has been immersed in the league since moving into broadcasting after he retired following the 2020 season.”

Olsen doesn’t have any college or professional coaching experience. In fact, his only coaching experience is with his son’s Pop Warner team, where he works alongside former Panthers Pro Bowl linebacker Luke Kuechly. Olsen has worked as an NFL color commentator for Fox since his retirement.

If the Panthers were to hire the 38-year-old Olsen — a move The Athletic says would surely be criticized by many — it wouldn’t be the first time an NFL team hired a former player with zero head coaching experience.

As much as I love Greg Olsen, I would not like this for him. He needs to remain beloved and not ran out of town.

A front office position would be much better, the #Panthers could take page out of the 49ers book. https://t.co/XgoRmBGvmp
— Drew Rigley (@DrewRigley) November 28, 2023

Just last year, the Indianapolis Colts hired former Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday to be the team’s interim head coach after they also fired Reich nine games into the season. Saturday went 1-7 and the Colts finished in third place in the AFC South.

The Minnesota Vikings also made a similar hire in 1961 when they tabbed former league MVP Norm Van Brocklin as their head coach. He went 29-51-4 in six seasons before leaving to coach in Atlanta. He compiled a 37-49-3 record with the Falcons.

Olsen spent nine seasons of his 15-year career in Carolina from 2011 to 2019. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Second Team All-Pro, and he ended his Panthers career third all-time in receptions (524) and yards (6,463), and fourth in touchdowns (39).

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